Muting device



Patented Sept. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT EFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in musical apparatus and has particular reference to a violin muting device.

The principal object of the invention is to produce a device which may be quickly adjusted for either muting position or open position.

A further object is to produce a device which is neat in appearance.

A further object is to produce a device where* in the apparatus is rigid in construction and therefore free of vibration which would destroy delicate musical tones.

A further object is to produce a device which may be readily adjusted.

15 A still further object is to provide means wherein the player of the violin may readily determine whether the instrument has been muted or not through the upstanding operating lever repre-v senting in some degree the old style of muting device.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan View of a violin showing my muting device attached thereto,

2 is a vertical longitudinal fragmentary View of a violin showing my muting device attached thereto and in open position,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 isa fragmentary detail View showing the device in muting position,

Fig. 5V is a fragmentary detail View of the holding clamp,

Fig. G is an end elevation partly in cross section of the holding clamp and screw,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of the adjustable supporting bar, and

Fig. S is a side elevation of the adjusting bar elevating screw.

In the playing oi' a violin or similar string instrument, it is common to employ a mute which is secured upon the bridge of the violin so as to dampen the vibrations thereof and to thus change the tones of the instrument. This muting is well konwn and needs no further description other than to'say the mute is carried in the pocket and when it is necessary to'play a muted portion of the music then the mute is removed from the pocket and placed upon the bridge. When through the mute is removed and placed in the pocket. This results in delay, often causes confusion and occasionaily after the mute is misplaced would result vin a serious break in the continuity of a program. Applicant has there fore produced a mating device which is perinai nently attached to the violin which has a single operating lever, which operating lever, when in one position, lies substantially between the 'second and third strings actically out of sight, but when moved to operative position for muting takes a position extending above the bridge which position indicates *he player that violin is muted and is similar in a sense in that the old fashioned type oi' inute projects above the bridge in plain view of the player.

In the accompanying drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred ein bodimcnt of my inve n, the numeral 5 designates a section of a vio upon whicn is mounted the customary bridge piece 6, tail piece 7 and ringer board S. Custoinar strings are shown at 9, l1, -2 and i3. The structure thus far described is common to most musical instruments of this type and `loi-Ins no part of my invention.

My invention consists ci a supporting tube 14 which is held to the tail i" 7 through the inediurn ci a clamp 16. "Y" i l.nis clamp l5 is substantially semi-circular in shape and surrounds a portion of the tube 14, which tube an opening 1"? therethrough to permit a screw 18 to pass through the tail 1'ieee and engage a thread formed in the clamp 16. The opening 17 is elongated so that the tube 14 may be moved relative to the clamp, the purpose of which Will be later seen. A screw 19 extends through the tube 14 and bears upon the under-surface of the tail piece 7,

whic screw adjusts the position of the free end of the tube relative to the opening in the bridge 6. This is best illustrated in Fig. 2. Mounted upon the tube 14 is a spring 21 which abutts l mutings plates 22 and These muting plates are preferably made of a material having a slight amount of spring tension thereto, so that after the plates are brought into engagement with the bridge, pressure may be exerted thereagainst. Pivoted to the tube 14 is a cam member 24 having a nose 25, the pivot point being shown at 26. This cam 24 has a nat surface 27 and a handle 28. A link 29 is pivoted to the cam member and extends forwardly through the opening in the bridge and is connected to a cam member 31 having a substantially flat surface 32 and a cam nose The cani 31 is pivoted upon a movable pivot 34 extending through the tube 14 and movable in a slot 36. An adjusting screw 37 carried in the end of the tube bears against the pivot 34 and forms a means whereby adjustment of the throw of the cams may be readily accomplished.

When my device is attached to an instrument as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will be readily apparent that by adjusting the rod 14 in the clamp 16, the muting plates 22 and 23 may be adjusted an equal distance upon each side of the bridge 6 and that by manipulating the screw 19 the position of the rod with relation to the vertical height of the bridge may also be adjusted. By now manipulating the handle 28 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 3,

it will be apparent that the noses of the two cams will be brought into engagement with their respective mute plates and the mute plates will be moved against the tension of the spring 2l until they come to rest against the opposite faces of the bridge. Further movement of the lever will result in the resilient material of the muting plates exerting pressure against the bridge, thus accomplishing a perfect muting of the instrument.

It will be apparent that with my device all danger of metallic sound has been eliminated through the fact that all parts are effectively held against any possible vibration.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes relative to the material, size, shape and arrangement or parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-

In a muting device for a stringed musical instrument having a bridge and comprising a support secured to said instrument, said support being slidable in its connection to said instrument, said support extending through said bridge and midway of its length, a pair of plates slidably mounted on said support and on opposite sides of said bridge, a spring interposed between said plates and surrounding said support, a pair of cam members pivoted to said support and on opposite sides of said bridge and outside of said plates, a link connecting said cams, a lever formed integral with one of said cams whereby when said lever is actuated said cams will press against the outside of said plates to simultaneously compress said spring and said plates against said bridge.

ARTHUR W. CLAUSEN. 

